10 of the most powerful passports in the world

One of the hallmarks of any traveler is a well-worn passport, but not every country's passport is the same. Depending on the country of origin, a national passport could carry significant weight and influence at customs — or sometimes not so much.

The strength of the world's passports is measured by the International Air Transport Association in its annual Henley Passport Index, which measures "visa-free access to 227 destinations across the world," CNBC said. The index uses a mathematical score that "indicates the percentage of global GDP each passport provides to its holders' visa-free," Henley & Partners, the company in charge of the index, said in a press release. "If no visa is required [for a destination], then a score of one is allocated for that passport," said Henley. "Where a visa is required, or where a passport holder must apply for a government-approved electronic visa before departure, a score of 0 is assigned."

Henley also factors in "mobility data" based on national GDPs and the percentage of global wealth each passport could provide access to.

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These are 10 of the world's most powerful passports, according to Henley's September 2024 ranking.

1. Singapore

Singapore has claimed the top spot on the Henley Index as the world's most powerful passport, with a Singaporean passport also allowing visa-free travel to 195 of 227 destinations, putting it squarely on the top of the Henley Index as the world's most powerful passport. Many citizens of Singapore take advantage of these optics, with more than 2.8 million Singaporean passports in circulation, according to market research company Thales Group. However, Thales also noted that the passport's ease of access also makes it a prime target for counterfeiters, though international groups have implemented biometric features to hinder this.

2. Germany

Many European passports provide large-scale travel access, and Germany is no exception. The country is tied as the second-most powerful passport in the world, shooting up the rankings by allowing visa-free access to 192 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. German nationals are also automatically citizens of the European Union, and those who want to stick around Europe have even more movement rights granted to them by Article 21 of the EU Treaty. This clause states that EU citizens "shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states," allowing Germans to work and live in any EU nation they choose. Most of the other European countries on this list fall under similar provisions.

3. France

France jumped onto the list by allowing visa-free access to 192 of 227 destinations, tying it for the second-most powerful passport in the world along with several other European nations. The European Union is preparing to implement an "Entry/Exit System," or EES, in October 2024, which will be an "automated system for registering travelers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border," said the EU. While this is designed to make travel for non-EU residents into places like France easier, many people in these non-EU countries, such as the United Kingdom, are less than pleased. Anyone with a British passport traveling to Europe "could face delays, especially as the scheme gets underway," said Euronews.

4. Spain

Like its German counterpart, a Spanish passport has also gotten significantly more powerful, allowing visa-free access to 192 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. An EU member state, Spain also allows its citizens to move freely under Article 21 provisions, and they are able to work and live throughout Europe. Like most European documents, a Spanish passport remains highly desirable, and up to 75 million Americans may be eligible for Spanish citizenship due to their ancestral heritage, management brand Global Capitalist said. This privilege "also extends to Filipinos, Portuguese and Sephardic Jews," the report added, though as with France, questions remain as to whether or not the EES system could cause undue delays.

5. Japan

Japan saw a significant fall from grace in Henley's 2023 rankings, after having topped the list of the world's most powerful passports at the beginning of the year. However, the country has rebounded somewhat this year, and a Japanese passport is now tied for second place, providing visa-free access to 192 of 227 destinations. Nearly 85% of the entire world accepts Japan's passports without a visa, meaning most countries are easily accessible to the Japanese. This is despite the fact that most Japanese people don't do that much traveling. In 2019, only 23% of Japanese citizens held passports, Nikkei Asia said.

6. Finland

Nordic countries enjoy a level of stability that affords them powerful passports. Finland is no exception, with the Henley Index reporting the country's passport provides visa-free access to 191 of 227 destinations, tying it for the third-most powerful passport. This makes it the most powerful Nordic passport by the Index's estimation, though the rest of the region is not far behind. And Finland is an EU member, allowing its citizens to similarly travel through the majority of the continent.

7. Ireland

Ireland is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations; the country's travel bureau reported an estimated 11.3 million overseas visitors in 2019. However, as much as visitors travel to the Emerald Isle, many Irish people go abroad, and the country's passport reflects this. An Irish passport provides visa-free travel to 191 of 227 destinations, the Henley Index reported. The number of Irish people applying for the documents is also rising. In 2022, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs recorded just over 1 million yearly passport requests, "which sets a new annual record for the Irish Passport Service." This trend continued in 2023, with 1 million passport requests and at least 950,000 new passports issued.

8. Luxembourg

Despite being one of the world's smallest countries, Luxembourg's passport remains powerful — no doubt due to the country's extreme wealth. A passport from Luxembourg provides visa-free travel to 191 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. The passport is so well-regarded that even China announced that it would extend visa-free entry to Luxembourgish citizens, as well as a slew of other European countries. This is despite the fact that "China and the EU have been at odds over several issues, including the war in Ukraine and economic dispute," said Politico.

9. New Zealand

A passport from the Kiwis offers visa-free travel to 190 of 227 destinations, making it a strong contender on the Henley Index. Beyond the passport itself, New Zealand has also taken steps to make international travel easier for its citizens. Kiwis can "apply for a New Zealand passport from nearly anywhere in the world because New Zealand offers an end-to-end online passport service, one of the first countries in the world to do so," said Stuff, a New Zealand-based news site. New Zealand's passports are also biometric, meaning they keep the person's identity "stored securely in a chip."

10. United Kingdom

A passport from His Majesty's government is another powerful document. A British passport, as with an Irish one, allows visa-free access to 190 of 227 destinations, the Henley Index reported. Part of this is due to the U.K.'s colonial history. Immigration management consultant Sable International said that the legacy of the British Empire "has resulted in a myriad of immigration and nationality laws over hundreds of territories across the world," allowing many people to claim British ancestry. One thing U.K. citizens don't have anymore, though, are automatic EU privileges following Brexit.